Vital bus service is under threat (From Penarth Times)

Vital bus service is under threat

A VITAL service for vulnerable Penarth residents needs to find a secure place to safeguard their mini-buses from vandalism.

East Vale Community Transport, which is a registered charity, provides a door-to-door bus run for people who need help to get to the shops.

Both the mini-buses have been attacked by vandals while stationed at Tesco's car park.

Now the vehicles have to be moved to another area and soon so that the service can continue.

Co-founder and chairwoman of East Vale, Margaret Read said: "We hope to find a permanent place to house the buses safely.

A locked compound would be ideal but we have yet to find one.

Our committee has explored every avenue and now we need help to find a permanent base.

Without this the vehicles are vulnerable."

She revealed that one of the buses had been attacked again.

This time one window was totally smashed, three others were damaged and the spare tyre was stolen.

East Vale committee member and Chairman of the Vale Council, Harold Rees said: "It is very expensive to keep repairing the windows.

The service has to stop while they are replaced, which means many people can not get out unless they have a taxi.

Both vehicles are specially adapted for wheelchairs.

It is a service which caters for the most vulnerable members of the community.

And without this lifeline many people would be stranded."

Vandalism in recent weeks has caused damage on four occasions adding to the cost of running the mini-buses.

Another committee member and chairman of Llandough Council, Tony Wiggins said: "I can't understand why they prey on the buses.

So much effort went in to this attack but what the vandals have achieved is hard to see.

"We just can't afford to keep paying for repairs because we are a charity not a business."